LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Happy Birthday to Angels television broadcaster Wayne Randazzo!!!…Today, the Angels play the fourth (1-2) of six games on a road trip against the Milwaukee Brewers (1-2) and St. Louis Cardinals (May 2-4)…Halos went 5-2 on last homestand against Kansas City (2-1) and Oakland (3-1)…LAA was 2-5 on last road trip against the Boston Red Sox (1-3) and New York Yankees (1-2).
TODAY’S TRANSACTIONS: Today the Angels reinstated RHP Ryan Tepera from the injured list…He missed 15 games on the IL with right shoulder inflammation and worked 1.0 perfect inning in each of two rehab outings for Low-A Inland Empire, striking out five of six batters faced…In a corresponding move, RHP Andrew Wantz was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake.
VS. ST. LOUIS: Today is the first in a three game series \for the Angels at St. Louis…This is Halos first Series against the Cardinals since June 21-23, 2019 at Busch Stadium…Angels are 7-11 all-time vs. Cardinals (5-7 in St. Louis and 4-5 at current Busch Stadium).
A NEW ERA IN THE SERIES: Albert Pujols, who currently works for the Angels as a Special Assistant to the Club, has started all 18 previous games between the Angels and Cardinals…Today’s game will be the first ever matchup between the teams without Pujols in the lineup.
BACK ABOVE .500: With a 15-14 record, Halos are looking to get back to a season-high two games over .500 with a win tonight; (have been two games over .500 five times this year; last time at 14-12 on Thursday)…With a loss tonight, LAA would fall back to .500 mark for a 10th time this season (1-1, 5-5, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, 10-10, 11-11, 12-12 & 14-14).
AFTER APRIL: Angels finished month of April with a 15- 14 record…Third consecutive season with a .500-orbetter record at the end of April…For the month, Halos offense ranked third in HR (39) and fourth in runs (148), hits (246) and total bases (409)…Shohei Ohtani,
Hunter Renfroe and Mike Trout each finished April with seven HR, marking first time in LAA history that three players had 7+ HR by the end of April.
MULTI-HR MIKE: Saturday night at Milwaukee, Mike Trout extended his franchise record with his 25th career multi-HR game (first this season)…First time in career homering in consecutive innings (HR in 8th and 9th innings).
RECENT ROSTER MOVES: Saturday, the Angels selected the contract of RHP Chris Devenski…In corresponding moves, LHP José Quijada (left elbow inflammation) was placed on the 15-day injured list and C Logan O’Hoppe was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
HISTORICAL SERIES: During the Angels last home series vs. Oakland, Brandon Drury hit .600 (9/15) with seven runs, two doubles, one triple, four home runs, 12 RBI and three walks in the four games against the A’s…His 12 RBI are a new franchise record for a single series and seven
XBH hits tie a franchise record for a series.
LEAGUE LEADER: Shohei Ohtani, who is scheduled to pitch tomorrow for the Angels, leads the Majors in opponent batting average (.102), ranks tied for fourth in strikeouts (46), is fifth in ERA (1.85) and is sixth in WHIP (0.82).
PLAY FROM AHEAD: Halos have held leads in 24 of 29 games played this year.
INTERLEAGUE PLAY: LAA owns a 264-226 (.539) all-time Interleague record (3-3 in 2023)…The 264 all-time Interleague wins are third most all time behind Red Sox (290) and Yankees (285)…Angels won four of first five Interleague games in 2022, but are 6-15 vs. N.L. opponents since.
UNEARNED: Angels have allowed 20 unearned runs this season (tied with Rockies for most in Majors).
NET-OW: Zack Neto has been hit by seven pitches this season, which is tied for second-most in the Majors… Since 1901, Neto’s seven HBP through his first 15 career games are the most in MLB…He also was the first player in Angels history to be hit a pitch in four consecutive games (April 18-21).
OHTANI EXPRESS: Shohei Ohtani had his franchise record streak of 12 consecutive pitching starts allowing two-or-fewer runs snapped Thursday vs. Oakland (Nolan Ryan held the previous record with a nine game streak across the 1972-73 seasons).
ALL OVER THE INFIELD: Gio Urshela is one of five players in the Majors to appear at all four infield positions this season…He has made nine starts at first base, eight starts each at third base, seven at shortstop and one game at second base.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – LHP PATRICK SANDOVAL
2-1, 3.16 ERA
First career appearance vs. Cardinals
TODAY’S GAME: Making sixth start of the season and fourth on the road…Is in fifth Major League season with Angels…Made third Opening Day roster (also, 2020 & 2022).
• LAST TIME OUT: Earned the win in last start on Wednesday vs. Oakland after tossing a season-high 7.0 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts.
• IN THE ARSENAL: This season, has thrown sliders 30.7% of the time, with opponents batting .167 (6/36) against the pitch…He throws changeups 27.9% of the time and is holding opponents to a .194 (7/36) average with eight strikeouts.
• HOME OPENER: Started Angels Home Opener on April 7 vs. Toronto…Tossed 6.0 innings and allowed one earned run…Marked second time starting Angels Home Opener (also, 2020 vs. Seattle).
• INTERLEAGUE PLAY: In 15 career Interleague games (11 starts), is 2-6 with a 4.97 ERA (67 IP – 37 ER)…Has taken losing decisions in each of last three games vs. National League opponents.
• VS. ST. LOUIS: Today marks first career appearance vs. Cardinals.
• AT BUSCH STADIUM: Today is first career appearance at Busch Stadium.
• LEFT IN THE PARK: Has not allowed a home run to a left-handed batter since Aug. 13, 2021 (Kyle Tucker, HOU)…Allowed just eight total home runs last season (all to right-handed batters)…Held opponents homerless through first nine starts of 2022 was the longest streak to begin a season in Angels history and longest overall streak for LAA since John Lackey had a nine game streak in 2005.
• GOOD NIGHT: This year, has a 1.62 ERA (16.2 IP – 3 ER) in night games, compared with a 6.00 ERA (9 IP – 6 ER) in day games….Last season, was 4-4 with a 2.50 ERA (72 IP – 20 ER) with 75 strikeouts in his 13 night starts, compared with a 2-5 record and 3.29 ERA (76.2 IP – 28 ER) in his 14 day games.
• WINNING STREAK SNAPPED: Loss on April 20 at Yankees, snapped streak of three straight winning decisions, which was longest streak of career.
• SANDY IN THE WBC: Made two starts in the 2023 World Baseball Classic for Mexico, going 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA (7.1 IP – 1 ER) and eight strikeouts…The two starts came against the United States (W; 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) & Japan (ND; 4.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO).
• WHIFF OF CHANGE: Generated a 44.5% whiff rate on his changeup last season, which was the second-highest rate for any pitch in the Majors (min. 175 PA); trailed only Framber Valdez’s curveball (45.4%)…Opponents batted .215 (35/163) this season against his changeup with 73 strikeouts.
• MOTOWN SHUTOUT: Recorded first career complete game and first career shutout on Aug. 19, 2022 at Detroit…He allowed just four hits while striking out nine, walking none and facing just one batter over the minimum across just 97 pitches (73 strikes).
• CAREER NOTES: Originally drafted by Houston in 11th round of 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of Mission Viejo HS (CA), which is located just 20 miles from Angel Stadium…Acquired by Angels on July 26, 2018 in exchange for C Martin Maldonado
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: Following an off-day yesterday, the Cardinals open a six-game (LAA-3, DET-3) interleague homestand tonight with the first of three games against the Los Angeles Angels…it’s the first meeting between the Cardinals and Angels since June of 2019 here at Busch Stadium…the Cardinals are returning home from a 10-game (1-2 at SEA, 1-3 at SF, 0-3 at LAD) west coast trip that saw them go just 2-8, wrapping up with a 3-game series sweep by the Dodgers this past weekend…it was the Cardinals first west coast swing since 1978 that consisted of 10+ games and produced just two wins.
AMERICA’S “BEST” GUEST: Referred to by his friends as “America’s Guest”, Cardinals fans welcomed Mike Shannon into their homes for 50 years on the radio…Shannon, 83, passed away on Saturday, having spent over 60 years as a member of the Cardinals organization. The team celebrated Mike’s final season in the booth in 2021, and re-named the KMOX booth at Busch Stadium as the Mike Shannon Radio Broadcast Booth. The Cardinals will hold a moment of silence for Mike prior to tonight’s game, and will pay tribute to his iconic career as a player and broadcaster throughout the evening.
ROSTER MOVE: The Cardinals optioned LHP Zack Thompson to Memphis (AAA) today, and have recalled rookie RHP Guillermo Zuñiga (#60) from Memphis…Zuñiga, 24, will be making his MLB debut with his first appearance…the 6-5, 265-lb native of Cartagena, Colombia, appeared in 9 games at Memphis, recording 3 saves and striking out 9 in 8.1 IP (0-1, 5.40).
THE MERRY MERRY MONTH OF MAY: Since moving into Busch Stadium III
in 2006, the Cardinals have compiled a .500 or better record in the month of May in 12 of 16 seasons (missed 2000 due to COVID)…their best May in that time span was a 20-7 mark (.741 win pct.) in 2013, and their worst was a 9-18 (.333) spiral in 2019 on the heels of a strong 19-10 (.655) March/April start.
WESTERN WEAR: Tonight’s game is the 14th of 16 straight against opponents from the NL and AL West Divisions (St. Louis is 68-62
combined vs. both West Divisions since 2019).
L.A. STORY: Tonight is the fourth game of six straight vs. Major League teams from the Los Angeles area (April 28-30 at Dodger Stadium and May 2-4 vs. Angels at Busch Stadium) … The only other time St. Louis has played back-to-back series against the Dodgers and Angels was 2016: May 10-12 at Angel Stadium (3-0) and May 13-15 at Dodger Stadium (1-2).
MVP FACTORIES: The Cardinals, along with the Angels and Tigers, who they will host on this homestand, have produced a combined 12 league Most Valuable Players over the past 19 seasons, including each of the past two years (Goldschmidt-2022, Ohtani-2021)… the Angels have had 5 MVPs since 2004, the Cardinals 4 and the Tigers 3 (see chart at left)…overall, the Cardinals have won 21 MVP awards (2nd most to the Yankees, 23), the Tigers have 12 and the Angels 6.
SURELY YOU CAN’T BE SERIES-OUS?: St. Louis is the lone MLB team to be winless (0-9) in series openers this season, marking a franchise record of consecutive series-opening losses to begin a season. The MLB record still resides in the same city with the 1897 St. Louis Browns dropping their first 14 series openers. The 1978 Cardinals lost 20 straight series opening games from April 14-June 16, marking the franchise record for longest streak. Elias Sports Bureau
APRIL SHOWERS: Since MLB expanded to six divisions in 1994, the Cardinals have been in first or tied for first 11 times at the end of April in 28 seasons (excluding 2020) … Of the 17 seasons not in first place at the end of April, the Cardinals have appeared in seven postseasons (2022, 2021, 2014, 2004, 2002, 2001, 1996) … The largest deficit out of first at the end of the month was 6.0 games in 2016 to Chicago, with St. Louis being eliminated from postseason on the final day of the season … The furthest the Cards have been out of 1st place and still made the postseason was 2014, sporting a 15-14 record and 5.5 games back of Milwaukee, before holding off Pittsburgh on the final day of the season to win the division at 90-72. The largest deficit any N.L. Central team has overcome after April to make the postseason was the 2014 Pirates, who were 9.0 games out at the end of April and qualified for the N.L. Wild Card (Elias Sports Bureau)…
BRING MAY FLOWERS: The 2002 Cards began 12-14 in April before rebounding to go 18-10 in May and make the postseason … The 1985 Cards were 8-11 in April, then went 93-50 to close out their NL Championship season.
SNAZZY SOPHOMORES: Three Cardinals sophomores are ranked among the MLB leaders for those playing in their 2nd season…Nolan Gorman (.878), Alec Burleson (.722) and Brendan Donovan (.715) are all ranked in the top-15 for OPS among 2nd year players in MLB… Gorman is leading the majors sophomores with his 22 RBIs and he’s T2nd in HR’s with 6.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP STEVEN MATZ (0-3, 6.23)
TONIGHT’S GAME
NL Ranks: Losses (3, T-8th), Earned Runs (18, T-9th),
• Makes his 162nd career appearance (152nd start) and 16th start as a Cardinal.
• Has held his opposition to six hits or less in each of his last three starts.
• Is 5-6 with a 5.59 ERA in 15 starts (20 app.) with the Cardinals, posting a 9.85 strikeouts/9 IP, highest among Cardinals starting pitchers since the start of 2022.
• Has not earned a winning decision as a member of the Cardinals since Sept. 17. 2022 vs. CIN, pitching one inning in relief. Last win as a starter was 7/23/22 at CIN.
• Only win as a starting pitcher as a member of the Cardinals at Busch Stadium came on May 2, 2022, a rescheduled game tossing 6.0 scoreless innings in a 1-0 win.
• Missed 102 games on the Injured List with a left shoulder impingement (5/23-7/16) and strained left knee (7/24-9/16). Was activated from his second stint in mid-September and was added to the bullpen where he made five appearances.
• Prior to the 7/23/22 start at Cincinnati, Matz had missed approx. two months with a left shoulder impingement.
• Ranks 7th in MLB in Pitch Tempo with bases empty (11.9 sec/pitch) and 7th with runners on base (15.4 sec/pitch), leading all Cardinals.
• Holding left-handed batters to a .150 BA (3-20), with one home run in his last start to Lamonte Wade, Jr. at SF (4/26).
• Went 2-0, 1.53 ERA in four Grapefruit League appearances (three starts).
LAST TIME OUT
• Held his opposition to two runs, matching his season low, and received a no decision as the Cardinals fell to the Giants 7-3. Was his shortest start of the season at 4.0 IP throwing 90 pitches. Has yet to experience a Cardinals win in 2023 as St. Louis has lost all five of his starts this season.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
4/26 @SF L 7-3 ND 4.0 6 2 2 3 3 1 90-51
2023 SEASON
• Surpassed 800 career innings pitched in his start at SEA (4/21).
• Surrendered a lead-off home run to Ke’Bryan Hayes, then settled in allowing just one run on two hits over the next 17 outs. Matched his career-high with five walks. Received a no-decision in a 6-3 Cardinals loss in 10 innings vs. PIT (4/15). Threw a season-high 110 pitches, 2nd most in MLB this season at the time (Ohtani, 111).
• Allowed a season-high six runs on nine hits in a 7-4 loss at COL (4/10). Allowed only three doubles of his nine hits for extra bases.
• Struck out a season-high seven batters over 5.1 innings in a 4-1 loss vs. ATL (4/4). Allowed a career-high 10 hits (6th time) for the first time as a member of the Cardinals. Surrendered two home runs, including a 479-foot blast to Austin Riley, the 2nd-longest opposing HR at Busch Stadium III in the StatCast Era.
